Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-01-29

u ---S,,T7---
days itwas considered a terrible
thing for a girl to be an Old maid.
Young girls do not deliberately
choose the single path as they do
now. It was generally force of cir
cumstances that drove them into it.
MOTTO be married at twenty-five
asfconsidered a misfortune.
S9sShe and I we're schoolmates.-
After her entree into society she
had many suitor*; but the only one
WHO found favor ine her eyes was
James Halstead. % noble looking
young fellow who had been her
friend and playmate from infancy.
ReS had been away at college dur
iagsher late school days, but when
he.returned, finding her grown
young lady and handsomer than
ever, he fell more desperately in
love with her than before. twas
no9long ere they were betrothed..
As@lie! had mo g. comp let ed ShisaawII
stsysies ho We vel tl tim set sfoE
tha .fnarriiag yes y ssinde finite. Z.
ssWhen she was twenty her faith
erIaied, leaving large estate
Sha and a Young sister were the
sole heirsto the fortune. The young
sister, Theresa, was then at school.
She was a wild, selfish, imperius
girl, insisting uponhaving her way
mall things. From their childhood
Jennie had always yielded to her
caprices and temperS and when
heFEfather died she felt herself APP
pointed as the natural protector
and guardian of this younger girl,
though their fathers will placed
them and the property under the
guardianship ofan uncle, his broth
er.s
CATER the death of her father,
James wished Jennie to marry him
and 90 to his new homo in one Of
the new towns of Southern Cali
fornia-a place which twenty Eve
years ago was mere village. But
she refused.
await till Theresa is out of
school," she said. L cannot leave
her now. She requires constant
care and guidance. No one under
stands her Sc we'll us I. Left to the
stern rule of my uncle she would
soon break all bounds aud commit
some wild folly that would wreck
her life. When she has finished
school I will wed you and take her
with NE. Besides your practice is
not yet: built up, and do not &C
quire my property untiLhext year,
when Theresa is eighteen and |
TWEEN ty-one-then it will be divid-
ed. Twill not marry until can
bring you my dowry.'
ssHer lover. tried to persuade her,
but to no purpose. She was loving
and fearful, But firm in her re
solve.
ssAnd after all, how was she re-
paia foredeyotion to Thersaf She
was an ungrateful, selfish. girl Be.
F'{oTe the year haii passed she ran
away from school and married a
worthless mana really profiigate
young fellow, who had been dis
owned by his father, and who was
Stunned by all the respectable peo-
pie of the city.
"Jennie was heartbroken at the
occurrence; and to add to her great
misfortune her uncle confessed to
her that he had risked the greater
part of their fortune, together with
his own, in mining speculation
and lost it all. She and Theresa
were practically penniless, as we'll
as himself.
"The blow was q severe one but
Jennie met it bravely. Her uncle
offered her a home with his family
as long as he lived and could So
port them, but she refused to be al
additional burden upon him. She
met him with no reproaches, for
she believed that he had done all
for the BEST"
"That was very noble Of her."
said Stella, who was listening in
tently.
"Yes, but that was not all" con-
tinued her aunt, "she Immediately
began to support herself by giving
music lessons. Fortunately her
father had given her fine musical
education. But it was a hard life,
for she had been accustomed to
ease andluxury.
"Again her lover, who was still
struggling for a position, wrote to
her implorlng her to come to him;
but she refused.
"sLove will not keep u.s. she said,
wisely. 4 will not SO hamper you
In a year from now you will be es
tablished; then will come to you.'
ain the meantime she toiled early
and late; saving the money to help
furnish the little home he was buy
ing; and she allowed him to set the
wedding day.
IL think with all her hard work
she was happy then, save the re-
greet she felt for her sisters luck
less marriage. She seemed cheer
ful and contented always when |
met her, and often spoke OF her ap.
preaching marriage with a grave,
trustful joy that touched me deep
".
"But her life seemed doomed to
sorrow. On the day before her
1NA oh n